Thread cutting mechanism



Dec. 7, 1954 H. H. HOLCQMBE THREAD CUTTING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 19. 1952 IINVENTOR.

1 /044512 HENRY HOLCOMBE' .ATTOB United States Patent 2,696,224 THREAD CUTTING MECHANISM- Homer Henry Holcombe, Columbus, Ga.

Application August 19, 1952, Serial No. 305,171

16 Claims. (Cl. 139-267) This invention relates to thread cutting mechanisms for weft replenishing looms, and more particularly to a thread cutting mechanism which will cut the last thread carried across the lay beam by a shuttle and also the first thread from a new bobbin as the shuttle again moves across the lay beam.

The usual automatic-filling replenishing loom includes a reciprocating lay having a shuttle box at the replenishing end thereof, filling replenishing mechanism including a magazine containing a plurality of reserve filling carriers and providing means for holding the filling ends of the reserve carriers, mechanism for severing the filling ends, and mechanism for clamping and parting the outgoing filling end adjacent the shuttle. In addition, such looms may be provided with a thread remover, either mechanical or pneumatic, for removing loose pieces of filling ends from the loom.

The prior art machines are provided with a cutter mechanism which severs the filling ends between the cloth selvage and the shuttle box, only after several travels of the shuttle across the lay beam; thus, for a period of time leaving a piece of thread extending from the cloth selvage which may be caught by subsequent passes of the shuttle across the lay beam.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide thread cutting mechanism which will engage and cut the last thread of a bobbin immediately after the shuttle passes across the lay beam and the first thread of a new bobbin immediately after the shuttle again passes across the lay beam. I

Another object of my invention is to provide cutting mechanism which will cut threads as aforesaid, immediately adjacent the selvage of the woven fabric.

Another object of my invention is to provide thread cutting mechanism which will normally be held away from the thread carried by the shuttle and will move into engagement only after the last thread of a bobbin has passed between the warp threads and will remain in position to cut the first thread of a new bobbin as the shuttle again moves across the lay bar.

Another object of my invention is to provide thread cutting mechanism which has a plurality of vertical teeth for engaging the threads adjacent the selvage of the woven fabric on a weft replenishing loom, thus obviating the necessity of accurate positioning of the thread cutting mechanism. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide thread cutting mechanism for a weft replenishing loo-m which, upon actuation, will sever a thread with a plurality of cuts, 'thus eliminating any danger of pulling of that thread.

Another object of my invention is to provide a thread cutting mechanism for a weft replenishing loom where by the thread to be cut will be positively pushed into the cutter mechanism.

Another object of my invention is to provide thread cutting mechanism for a weft replenishing loom which is provided with teeth which will automatically sharpen themselves and thus remain sharp for an extended period of time.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and where- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the maga' 2,696,224 Patented Dec. 7, 1954 ice zine end of a weft replenishing loom which has incorporated therewith my thread cutting mechanism Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along hne 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lme 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view of a detail showing the cutter mechanism in disengaged position.

Fig. 5 is a view of a detail showing the cutter mechanism in engaged position.

Fig. 6 is a view of a detail showing the cutter mechanism in the engaged position as shown in Fig. 5 with the reciprocating lay beam in its forward position.

'Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment chosen for purpose of illustration and to Fig. 1 in particular, numeral 10 denotes the reciprocating lay beam of a weft replenishing loom having reeds 11 and breast beam 12. Warp threads 13 for forming woven fabric 14 extend through reeds 11 and fabric 14 extends over breast beam 12 and is collected on reel 15. In Fig. 1, numeral 16 denotes a temple of usual construction which is adjustably fastened by arm 17 to breast beam 12, and below this breast beam is magazine actuator shaft 18 which, upon indication of weft exhaustion, rotates counterclockwise to thereby actuate the magazine end of the weft replenishing machine to cause a change of bobbins.

All of the above parts are of well known construction and in themselves form no part of my present invention which relates particularly to an improved thread cutting mechanism.

In Figs. 1 and 3 through 6, is shown my thread cutting mechanism which comprises a substantially flat, somewhat rectangular, cutter member 19 which is slidably fixed to arm 17 by a retaining plate 20 having flanged edges 20 which loop around cutter member 19. Cutter member 19 slides horizontally on retaining plate 20 and one end is provided with a plurality of teeth 21 forming serrations along one edge thereof. The other end of cutter member 19 is provided with a horizontal slot 22 through which extends limiting pin 23 which is fixed to arm 17, thereby limiting the horizontal movement of cutter member 19. A diagonal slot 24 is also provided in said other end of cutter member 19, and this slot slidably retains actuator pin 25. An upright standard 26 carries actuator pin 25, and the upper edge of stand-' ard 26 rides against reaction bar 27 on arm 17. The lower end of standard 26 is pivotally retained by a horizontal locking bar 28 which is fixed to lever arm 29 journaled on shaft 18. A second arm or sword 30 is fixed to shaft 18 and is contiguous with arm 29. Sword 30 is provided with an engaging pin 31 which. protrudes through a slot 32 in arm 29 to lift arm 29 when shaft 18 rotates counter-clockwise and not interfere with the position of arm 29 when shaft 18 returns to its original position. Therefore, upon rotation of shaft 18, standard 26 will be raised from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 5, thus acting against cutter member 19 and extending teeth 21. As shown in Fig. 1, a locking arm 33 is pivotally mounted on the supporting structure 34 of the weft replenishing loom and this arm cooperates with horizontal locking bar 28 and is urged against this bar by spring 35; therefore, when shaft 18 is rotated, locking bar 28 moves up and is retained by a notch 33 in the end of locking arm 33, as shown by broken lines in Fig. 5.

On one side of cutter member 19 is mounted a smaller cutter member 36 which is provided with serrations or teeth 37' which are contiguous with teeth 21. Cutter member 36 is dove-tailed to cutter member 19 with its dove'tail section riding in slot 37 as shown in Fig. 7. Extending through slot 38 in cutter member 36 is an adjustment screw 39 which threadably engages cutter member 19 to adjustably urge teeth 37' against teeth 21, and

a spring 40 is fixed to cutter member 19 and acts against nut 40' on cutter member 36 to always urge cutter memone end of camming member 41 will bracket pivot pin 43.

on cutter member 36 and the other end will extend down Wardly.

Pivotally mounted on the lower end of camming member 41' is a camming member finger 44 which is ar-.

ranged to normally hang pendent therefrom and pivot only toward lay beam 10. A feeder actuator dagger 45 extends from horizontal locking bar 28 toward lay beam 10, and it supports an upright resilient finger engaging shield 46, the function of which will be described later.

Mounted below reciprocating lay bar 10 is a horizontal feeder supporting shaft 47 on which. is pivotally mounted thread feeder arm 48 which extends around the back of lay beam 10 and is provided with teeth.49 which extend through reeds 11 to a position where when reciprocating lay beam 10 is in the forward position, as shown in Fig. 6, these teeth will extend adjacent and past teeth 21 on cutter member 19. A buffer clamp 50 is fixed to reciprocating lay beam 10 and extends around the-back of feeder arm 48 to limit the backward motion of this feeder arm, and spring 51 on shaft 47 urges feeder arm 48 against buffer clamp 50. Extending down from feeder arm 48 is pivot arm 52 which is opposed to dagger 45 so that when the thread cutting mechanism is in the engaged position, as shown in Figs. and 6, this pivot arm will be struck by dagger 43, as shown in Fig. 6, and thereby rotate feeder arm 48 to extend teeth 49.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 6, a cutter actuating flange 53 is shown extending from the reciprocating lay beam to strike shield 46 and thus actuate cutter member 36 through arm 41 when the thread cutting mechanism is in the engaged position, as shown in Fig. 6. An unlocking finger 54 extends diagonally from the lower section of reciprocating lay beam 10 in an opposed position to locking arm 33 so that when the thread cutting mechanism is in the engaged position, unlocking finger 54 will strike locking arm 33 as the reciprocating lay beam 10 approaches its forwardmost position. Because it is not desired for the unlocking finger to strike locking arm 33 when shaft 18 is in the rotated position, I have provided a dowel 55 which extends horizontally at right angles from unlocking finger 54 to ride on the top of sword 30 and thereby hold unlocking finger 54 out of engagement as shown by the solid lines in Fig. 6. It is to be remembered that shaft 18 rotates counter-clockwise upon an indication that there is exhaustion of the thread or filling on a specific bobbin within the shuttle and that after a new bobbin has been automatically inserted within the shuttle on a Weft replenishing loom, shaft 18 will rotate back to its original position after the shuttle has carried the first thread of the new bobbin through warp thread 14.

In the operation of the loom, the parts of my thread cutting mechanism will normally be in the position shown in Fig. 4 so that none of the parts carried by reciprocating lay beam 10 will engage any of the parts opposed thereto; however, upon indication of thread exhaustion, and rotation of shaft 18 in a counter-clockwise position as a result, the parts of my thread cutting mechanism are shifted to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and are locked in that position by locking arm 33. Since shaft 18 will be in this rotated position as the bobbin is being changed in the shuttle on the magazine side of the loom, the last thread, 2, thereof will extend between the cutter mechanism and feeder arm 48, as. shown in Fig. 1, so that as the reciprocating lay beam 10 advances dagger 45 strikes pivot arm 52 to thereby extend teeth 49, and force the thread, t, into teeth 21 and 37'. Simultaneously with this operation, cutter actuating flange 53 strikes finger engaging shield 46, which in turn strikes finger 44 and acting through camming member 41 causes cutter member 36 to come down, clipping the thread, t, between teeth 21 by the action of teeth 37. As reciprocating lay beam 10 recedes, finger engaging shield 46 again springs out allowing cutter member 36 to again out as spring 40 pushes it to its original position. If finger engaging shield 46 happens to be pushed past finger 44 by the action of cutter actuating flange 53, cutter member 36 again springs up to its normal position due to the action of spring 40 and as lay beam 10 recedes, finger 44 pivots to allow resilient finger engaging shield 46 tospring out to its normal position there in front.

As a new bobbin is inserted within the shuttle, shaft 18 rotates back to its original position, thus lowering sword 30 ,to a position shownby broken lines in Fig. 6, the thread'cutter mechanism still remaining in .its extended position since locking arm 33 supports locking bar 28. Then as reciprocating lay beam 10 again advances, with a new thread being carried by the shuttle, the cutting action described above, again takes place; but since sword 30 is in the lower position, unlocking finger 54 strikes locking arm 33, as shown by broken lines in Fig. 6, thus disengaging this arm from locking bar 28 and allowing the cutting mechanism to return to its original disengaged position as shown in Fig. 4.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiment shown and described without departing from the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a weft replenishing loom having a magazine actuator shaft, and a reciprocating lay beam, said loom being of the type incidentally forming incoming and outgoing weft thread adjacent the cloth selvage, thread cutting mechanism movably supported adjacentsaid weft thread, extending means operable responsive to rotation of the actuator shaft for extending said cutting mechanism into cutting engagement with said weft thread, locking means operable upon actuation of said shaft to hold said cutting mechanism in said cutting engagement, unlocking means connected to said reciprocating lay beam for unlocking said locking means and withdrawing said cutting mechanism from said weft thread, and means connected to said reciprocating lay beam for actuating said cutting mechanism to out said weft thread when said cutting mechanism is extended.

2. In a weft replenishing loom having a magazine actuator shaft, and a reciprocating lay beam, said loom being of the type incidentally forming incoming and outgoing weft thread adjacent the cloth selvage, thread cutting mechanism comprising a cutter member provided with cutting teeth, said cutter member being movably supported adjacent said weft thread, means operable responsive to actuation of said shaft for extending said cutter member into cutting engagement with said weft thread, locking means operable upon actuation of said shaft to hold said cutter member in said cutting engagement, unlocking means connected to said reciprocating lay beam for unlocking said locking means and withdrawing said cutter member from said weft thread, and means connected to said reciprocating lay beam for actuating said cutter member to out said weft thread when said cutter member is extended.

3. In a weft replenishing loom having a magazine actuator shaft, a reciprocating lay beam, and a breast beam, and said loom being of the type incidentally forming incoming and outgoing weft thread adjacent the cloth selvage, thread cutting mechanism comprising a pair of adjacent cutter members provided with cutting teeth along adjacent edges, said cutter members being movably supported adjacent said weft thread, means operable responsive to actuation of said shaft for extending said cutter members into cutting engagement with said weft thread, locking means operable responsive to actuation of said shaft to hold said cutter members in said cutting engagement, unlocking means connected to said reciproeating lay beam for unlocking said locking means and withdrawing said cutter members from said weft thread, and means connected to said reciprocating lay beam for actuating said cutter members to out said weft thread when said cutter members are extended.

4. In a weft replenishing loom having a magazine actuator shaft, and a reciprocating lay beam said loom being of the type incidentally forming incoming and outgoing weft thread adjacent the cloth selvage, thread cutting mechanism comprising a pair of adjacent cutter members provided with cutter teeth along parallel vertical straight edges, said cutter members being movably supported adjacent said weft thread, actuator means operable responsive to rotation of said magazine actuator shaft for moving said cutter members toward said weft thread, and means for reciprocally moving at least one of said cutter members with respect to the other along a plane parallel to said vertical straight edges to cutsaid weft thread when said cutter members are moved toward said weft thread. 7

5. In a weft replenishing loom having a reciprocating lay beam, and an actuatable magazine actuator shaft, said loom being of the type incidentally forming incoming and outgoing weft thread adjacent the cloth selvage, the combination of a support, cutter mechanism movably mounted on said support in a position adjacent said cloth selvage, extending means for intermittently extending said cutter mechanism into cuttin engagement with said weft thread, said extending means being operable responsive to. actuation of said magazine actuator shaft, and actuator means connected to said reciprocating lay beam for actuating said cutter mechanism when extended to cut said weft thread. I

6. In a weft replenishing loom having a reciprocating lay beam, and an actuatable magazine actuator shaft, said loom being of the type incidentally forming incoming and outgoing weft thread adjacent the cloth selvage, the combination of a support, cutter members movably mounted on said support in a position adjacent said cloth' selvage, extending means for intermittently extending said cutter members into cutting engagement with said weft thread, said extending means being operable responsive to actuation of said magazine actuator shaft, and actuator means connected to said reciprocating lay beam for actuating said cutter members when extended to out said weft thread adjacent said cloth selvage.

7. Thread cutting mechanism for weft replenishing loom having a reciprocating lay beam, an actuatable magazine actuator shaft and a breast beam, said loom being of the type incidentally forming incoming and outgoing weft thread ends adjacent the cloth selvage, comprising a pair of cutter members joined together for vertical reciprocating motion with respect to each other, a support extending from said breast beam and slidably supporting one of said cutter members for intermittent horizontal movement into cutting engagement with said weft thread ends, an upright standard, an actuator pin on said standard and riding in a slot in one of said cutter members, a lever arm journaled on said magazine actuator shaft, a locking bar pivotally fixed to said lever arm and pivotally supporting said standard, a sword extending from said shaft and coupled to said lever so that said lever will be carried up when said shaft is rotated to lift said sword, a locking arm pivoted on said loom and riding against said locking bar so that as said lever lifts said locking bar and said upright standard said locking bar is locked in position with said upright standard extending said cutter members into cutting engagement with said weft thread ends, a camming member pivotally mounted on one of said cutter members and engaging the other of said cutter members, a cutter actuating flange extending from said reciprocating lay beam to strike said camming member when said cutter members are extended to cause cutting action of said cutter members, a dagger extending from said locking bar, a thread feeder arm pivotally mounted on said reciprocating lay beam for striking said dagger when said locking arm is lifted and urging said weft thread ends into said cutter members, and an unlocking arm pivotally mounted on said reciprocating lay beam for striking and unlocking said locking arm, said unlocking arm riding on said sword iarfiddnot striking said locking arm when said sword is i te 8. Thread cutting mechanism for weft replenishing loom having a reciprocating lay beam, an actuatable magazine actuator shaft and a breast beam, said loom being of the type incidentally forming incoming and outgoing weft thread ends adjacent the cloth selvage, said mechanism comprising a pair of cutter members having contiguous flat sides dovetailed together for vertical reciprocating motion with respect to each other, said cutter members being provided with serrated teeth along adjacent edges, a support extending from said breast beam and slidably supporting one of said cutter members for intermittent horizontal movement into cutting engagement with said weft thread ends, an upright standard, an actuator pin on said standard and riding in a diagonal slot in one of said cutter members, a lever arm journaled on said magazine actuator shaft, a horizontal locking bar pivotally fixed to said lever arm and pivotally supporting said standard, a sword extending from said shaft and coupled to said lever so that said lever will be carried up when said shaft is rotated to lift said sword, a locking arm pivoted on said loom and riding against said locking bar so that as said lever lifts said locking bar and said upright standard said locking bar is lockedin position with said upright standard extending said cutter members into cutting engagement with said weft thread ends, a camming member pivotally mounted on one of said cutter members and engaging the other of said cutter members, a cutter actuating flange extending from said reciprocating lay beam to strike said camming member when said cutter members are extended to cause cutting action of said cutter members, a dagger extending from said locking bar, a thread feeder arm pivotally mounted on said reciprocating lay beam for striking said dagger when said locking arm is lifted and urging said weft thread ends into said cutter members, and an unlocking arm pivotally mounted on said reciprocating lay beam for striking and unlocking said locking arm, said unlocking arm riding on said sword and not striking said locking arm when said sword is lifted.

9. In a weft replenishing loom for weaving cloth, said loom being of the type incidentally forming weft threads adjacent the cloth selvage, a thread cutting mechanism comprising a pair of cutter members having contiguous fiat vertical surfaces, said cutter members being reciprocally slideable with respect to each other in opposite directions along a straight line in substantially vertical plane, a plurality of serrated teeth arranged in a straight line along a vertical edge of each of said cutter members for cutting engagement with each other upon slideable movement of one of said cutter members withrespect to the other, and means for moving said teeth of said cutter members horizontally into engagement with said weft thread to out said weft thread.

10. The structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein at least some of said teeth on each of said cutter members are provided with cutting edges along both sides thereof to cut said thread upon motion of one of said cutter members in either direction.

11. In a weft replenishing loom for weaving cloth, said loom being of the type incidentally forming incoming and outgoing weft thread adjacent the cloth selvage, a thread cutting mechanism comprising a pair of cutter members having contiguous surfaces and contiguous teeth along adjacent parallel edges thereof, one of said cutter members being provided with a slot parallel to said edges, guide means on the other of said cutter members riding in said slot, and means for reciprocating said cutter members to cut said weft thread.

12. The structure as claimed in claim 11 wherein said means for reciprocating said cutter members includes spring means on one of said cutter members resiliently urging the other cutter member in one direction of reciprocation.

13. The structure as claimed in claim 12 wherein said means for reciprocating said cutter members includes a lever pivoted on one of said cutter members and acting against the other of said cutter members and actuated by said loom for moving said other cutter member in the other direction of reciprocation.

14. In a weft replenishing loom having a breast beam, a reciprocating lay beam and an actuatable magazine actuator shaft, said loom being of the type incidentally forming incoming and outgoing weft thread adjacent the cloth selvage, a thread cutting mechanism comprising a support carried by said breast beam, a first cutter member carried by said support and slideable toward or away from said weft thread, a second cutter member carried by said first cutter member and slideable vertically with respect to said first cutter member, cutting means along vertical edgesof each cutter member to out said weft thread upon movement of said second cutter member, means connected to said magazine actuator shaft for sliding said first cutter member toward said weft thread upon actuation of said magazine actuator shaft, and other means connected to said second cutter member and actuated by movement of said lay beam to slide said second cutter member with respect to said first cutter member to cut said weft thread.

15. The structure as claimed in claim 14 wherein said other means includes a lever pivoted to said first cutter member and an actuating flange carried by said lay beam which strikes said lever as said lay beam reciprocates when said first cutter is slid toward said weft thread by said magazine actuator shaft.

16. In a weft replenishing loom having a breast beam, a reciprocating lay beam and means for indicating weft thread exhaustion, said loom being of the type incidentally forming weft thread adjacent the cloth selvage, a weft thread cutting mechanism comprising a support carried by said breast beam, cutter members movably carried by said support adjacent the cloth selvage, means operable by said first mentioned means for extending said cutter members toward said weft thread, a lever connected between said cutter members for actuating said cutter members to cut said weft thread, and means carried by said breast beam for actuating said lever when said cutter members are extended.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Number Name Date Staflord Sept. 1, 1925 Marshall Mar. 9, 1926 Camps July 4, 1933 Brouwer May 16, 1950 Turner May 30, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Ian. 25, 1923 

